Developer reveals plans for ‘O-Town West’ project

The man behind multiple mixed-use communities throughout Orange County is proposing to build a luxury living and entertainment development in Dr. Phillips.

Unicorp National Developments, Inc. President Chuck Whittall and county officials hosted a community meeting on May 23 at Sand Lake Elementary School to discuss a future land-use map amendment for an 84.32-acre property generally located north of Interstate 4, south of Fenton St. and east of Lake Ruby.

The proposal is to amend the future land-use map designation of the property from activity center mixed use, activity center residential, and low-medium density residential to Planned Development-Commercial/Medium-High Density Residential. The amendment would allow for the development of up to 1,800 dwelling units and up to 415,142 square feet of commercial space. About 82 acres of the total 84.32 acres are developable, according to county documents.

Whittall branded his proposed development project with the name “O-Town West.” 

“We’ve gotten, really, a lot of traction on it, because it’s going to be a really great project, and it’s going to be (a) great development for this side of town,” Whittall said. “We’ve got a huge amount of interest from restaurants (who want) to be here. And the restaurants we’re bringing out here are really going to be new-to-market restaurants.”

He added the development will include a grocery store, various restaurants, a large entertainment complex with a movie theater and boardwalk overlooking a water show and an upscale, luxury apartment complex of up to 1,200 units called “Glass House.” The center of the complex will feature a large lagoon for swimming. Rental prices will start at $2,000 per month. Additionally, other housing will surround the outside of apartment complex.

“The entertainment complex is going to be called ‘Boardwalk at O-Town West,’” Whittall said. “In the center of it, it’s going to have a water show. It’s going to be really cool. It’s a $4 million water show which will have lights and dancing water and video mapping and be set to music.”

Current entitlements for the subject property allow for the development of up to 282 hotel units, 564 timeshare units, 250 multi-family residential units and 487,765 square feet of commercial space. The proposed changes would have less of an impact compared to what is currently allowed on the property, Whittall said.

“It’s significantly less than what could go on the property (today),” Whittall said. “It’s right now designed for super density, and that’s not what we want to do.”

Aside from this proposed development, Unicorp built Dellagio on Sand Lake Road, Lakeside Crossing in Winter Park, I-Drive 360 on International Drive — home of the Coca Cola Orlando Eye — and other projects.